By Xander Ledesma
Thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Oriental are set to receive individual land titles and mortgage condonation certificates as part of the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) efforts to strengthen land tenure security.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Manuel Galon announced on Tuesday that the DAR plans to distribute titles for over 2, 000 hectares of agricultural land under its Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project by December. This initiative will benefit an estimated 2, 500 to 3, 000 farmers.
The SPLIT Project, funded by the World Bank, aims to convert 1.38 million hectares of collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) into individual titles, ensuring that ARBs gain greater control over their lands.
“Our office is continuously receiving individual titles from the Register of Deeds, and we anticipate more Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoM) to arrive shortly,” Galon said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration has expedited the issuance of CoCRoMs to alleviate the financial burdens of ARBs, with Galon highlighting the effort as a significant milestone in land reform.
During a distribution ceremony on November 16 at the Macias Sports Center in Dumaguete City, the DAR handed out various land titles and condonation certificates. Farmers expressed relief and gratitude, noting the transformative impact of the mortgage condonation program on their livelihoods.
The next round of distribution is tentatively scheduled for December 14, signaling continued progress in the DAR’s land reform initiatives under the SPLIT Project.